Abstract
Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanopowder of size 50 +/- 10 nm has been synthesized using low temperature synthesis technique. The ZnO and multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were mixed in equal amounts. Both types of powders (ZnO and ZnO-CNTs) were tested to measure the effect of pressure using a specially designed transducer. Upon rising pressure from zero to 8.15 kN/m(2), the change in impedance was found 35% and 17% and change in capacitance was 41% and 10% while the change in impedance was 36% and 38%, respectively for ZnO and ZnO-CNTs nanopowders. The observed changes in the electrical parameters may be regarded as the sample's densification and porosity reduction due to pressure. With respect to ZnO-CNTs the ZnO shows higher change in resistance; that can be credited to displacement currents.